After a disappointing weekend with Paul Moloney being unlucky and getting unseated from Air Force One when we were hoping for a big run as he was in absolute peak condition. His next run will be in
Tomorrow we have two very promising runners at Fontwell, firstly For Non Stop who should run a big race now he has better ground and we also have Fine Parchment who is in a handicap chase and we will be looking for a bit of double delight.
Also at the end of last week Kieran Watson won an award for top goal scorer not only of the season but of the entire history of lambourn football. News travelled fast and Susannah Mann soon booked him for football lessons for her son William. Yesterday Peter Toole was kicked very badly down at the start on his left knee and was close to fainting but got back on and finished second and later received five stitches and won't be riding for a couple of days
On Thursday we had all the youngsters in the yard schooling and they jumped well and look to have plenty of promise over obstacles. Today Fin Vin De Leu won his
Tarquinius ran another solid race at
We had three runners today firstly we had Cast Cada at Ludlow in a beginners chase and he ran a good race and was just touched off for second after making a couple of mistakes at two out and the last, but his main aim for the season would be to head to the 4 mile amateur riders chase at Cheltenham in which his dam was only beaten a short head. Also at Ludlow we had Simply Strong who ran well in a stiff maiden hurdle and looks to be very promising, his future looks to lie over fences especially as he has already won an Irish Point to Point. Finally we had Rebel Rebellion in a bumper at Southwell who was backed into 8 to 1 on, he was given a quiet and confident ride by Timmy Murphy and lived up to expectations and won very easily bringing our strike rate up to 40% in Bumpers. His next target will be the Cheltenham Bumper.
Tomorrow we have Quentin D’Ex running in a handicap chase at Taunton carrying top weight who should have a decent chance with Timmy Murphy on board, bidding to make it three from three for us within a week.
On Saturday we had two runners at Doncaster firstly Aqualung who ran well and enjoyed running on better, faster ground but was just a bit outpaced turning out of the back straight before staying on towards the line and will most likely run over further next time out. Then we had the very unpredictable Moon Over Miami who ran in a very competitive race, he was keen until he hit the seventh fence in the Blue Square Handicap Chase and then seemed to be disheartened and faded from then on. However he will head for the Grand Annual at
Today we had Gallox Bridge who had his first run in a bumper over 1 mile and 6 furlongs at Fontwell and he won very well indeed by 8 lengths, Peter Toole gave him a quite ride and pushed him out with just hands and heels which was a nice way for the promising conditional to get back into the winners enclosure after not riding a winner in over a month.
Another highlight of the week was that the yards darts team won the Lambourn darts competition in an easy final against the strong
After our much publicized 4 day ban from using the Jockey Club gallops in Lambourn, it seems that there are some people who are very keen to know who the grass was – this article is from Mick Channon’s website.
| THE MANN BAN - WHO'S THE GRASS? |
| Mick today suffered from a severe bout of intrigue after reading about Charlie Mann's ban from the Mandown gallop in Lambourn for joining the all-weather at a forbidden point. Mick was incredulous, not with the story itself, but with the fact that Charlie refused to name the 'Flat colleague' who reported him to Jockey Club Estates.
"I can't believe what's happening over in Lambourn and I demand answers." ranted an invigorated Mick. "I'm almost suicidal with the monotony of our conditioning work here at West Ilsley at present and such a story is just what I need at this time. I've heard it could be anyone, even Tom Dascombe who might have sneaked back to settle an old score. Premiership footballers have been suggested this morning but they might have better things to worry about, whilst Henry Ponsonby's name has been at the forefront of my mind, but only because I'm vindictive. It's probably someone with a grudge against Charlie's dress sense. Some people have an almost paranoid opinion of people in mustard corduroy - I'm going to call Stan Moore, he's got his ear to the ground down in the valley."
Anyone with information is urged to e-mail West Ilsley to put the boss out of his misery.
***STOP PRESS***
No more e-mails thank you, we've just found out. We won't divulge the name of the flat trainer in question but he's the cat to Charlie's Tweety Bird. Apparently he, "Tawt he taw a puddy tat". |
Saturday was a day to forget, as they say bad things come in threes and they certainly did with William Bonney be most unsuccessful and will definitely need to return to fences, then Noel Fehily had a crashing fall and injured his shoulder from a spare ride he picked up from Warren Greatrex, he has gone for a scan today and we are waiting for the full update of the extent of the injury, and finally just to make it three - Peter Toole tried to beat the land speed record by driving from Uttoxeter to Cheltenham but unfortunately got stopped and clocked at 108mph when only 15 miles from the track, he then missed the ride at Cheltenham.
Sunday however was a much better one with Fin Vin De Leu running very well and finishing 2nd in his first ever start over hurdles, and looks like he could be a really smart horse. Then King Brex returned to winning ways and did it easily under a good ride from Paul Moloney and the final runner of the day who we were expecting the most from fell with Peter on board. To add insult to injury The Hardy Boy won the race which is what Peter was declared to ride had Noel not been injured.
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For anyone looking to purchase a share in an exciting young horse there is a half share available in a good looking gelding called Unleashed who is rated 99 on the flat and was trained by Henry Cecil, he has converted well to the jumping game but is just waiting for a bit of faster ground.
Approaching the end of January, we have survived the snow and frost which has played havoc with the racing fixtures and have come back with a bang with Noel riding a nice double on Sunday at Towcester. Today was our first full schooling morning since the snow has tried its hardest to stop us. Air Force One has come on from his racecourse gallop around Kempton last week and schooled for the first time this season over the fences, and Noel was very happy with him. Tomorrows runners schooled today and went well also, as did all the entries for the weekend, which hopes to be a promising one. For Non Stop had a good run today and jumped nicely but probably needs to be dropped back to 2miles and will be a better horse in time when he strengthens up.